Follow the Chocolate Trail around Courthouse Square, plus other things to do this weekend

The Times photo by Betsy Reason
Join the Chocolate Trail around the Courthouse Square in downtown Noblesville this Friday, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..

Who doesn’t love chocolate? If you love the smells and tastes of chocolate, then make plans to follow the Chocolate Trail through downtown Noblesville on Friday.
Noblesville Main Street’s annual Chocolate Trail, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., invites folks to shop, sample chocolate and explore the downtown.
This year, the trail map, which can be picked up at the orange Main Street tent, includes 17 stops. And here is a sampling of what will be offered.
-Across the Pond will have a mix of bite-size chocolate treats and offer 10 percent off purchases.
-All Local will give out free samples of Chocolate Milk from Dandy Breeze Creamery in Sheridan.
-Bash Boutique will have its annual Liverpool denim try-on event, and will give away two Liverpool items, plus 20 percent off any item storewide, except Brighton brand.
-Caravan Classes will offer a “chocolate art” station where attendees can decorate their own sweet creation.
-Lil Bloomers will serve an array of assorted chocolate offerings, that include “Dirt Dessert” and homemade cookies and milk, plus there will be store discounts.
-Little Gypsy Boutique will welcome customers in for “a colorful array of chocolates” inspired by the store’s new “must-have” fall arrivals. Also, if you’re feeling the heat, check out the Sidewalk Sale on your way in.-Linden Tree Gifts will give out chocolate cream pie samples and play host to a raffle.-Logan Village Mall will have extended store hours until 9 p.m., First Friday sales, and “lots of sweet treats for you to enjoy along the way.”-Nickel Plate Arts will have fresh, homemade baked chocolate treats from the new Schoolhouse 7 Cafe in Fishers, plus a new members-only art exhibit reception and live music by Danny Thompson and Travis Bent, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday.-NobleMade gift shop will have some new inventory, as well as some old favorites, in its locally-sourced Noblesville-themed gift shop. Special for Chocolate Trail, NobleMade will have Oreo Balls and chocolate pretzel rods from LT Sweets, a Hamilton County small business owned by Lauren Hogue.-Old Picket Fence will have extended hours, until 9 p.m., with sales and markdowns throughout the store and, of course, chocolate treats that are a mixture of candy donated by the vendors. So there is a little bit of everything chocolate.-The Mix Vintage and New Marketplace will have a storewide sale, new fall merchandise, a $10 gift certificate in the Noblesville Main Street drawing and, of course, lots of chocolate.-VIsit Hamilton County will bring out the White River Monster along with monster chocolates, monster coloring sheets and handouts for the White River Vision Plan.Visit all 17 stops, and get your map stamped, and return your map to the orange tent at the end of the night to win gift cards from merchants. Winners will be announced on Facebook. (Ages 21 and older are also invited to visit Matteo’s Ristorante Italiano wine garden in the alley for fun adult beverages.)

What else is happening? Besides the Chocolate Trail, which is 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, here are 10 more things to do this weekend.
2. Hamilton County Artists’ Association’s annual exhibit featuring “Our Creative Community” will have an opening artists reception from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday at the HCAA Birdie Gallery on Fifth Street.
2. Kenny G will perform at Symphony on the Prairie at Conner Prairie at 8 p.m. Friday.
3. A Farm to Table Dinner Fundraiser for Teter Organic Farm is 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Purgatory Golf Club in Noblesville. Since 2016, Teter Organic Farm has donated more than 30,000 portions of fresh organic produce to local food pantries and provided on-farm outdoor educational programming to 400 youth. Tickets are $62 and include a three-course meal and up to two beverages.
4. Nickel Plate Arts Campus’ First Friday will celebrate the opening of a Members-Only exhibit, “A Time to Re-Member,” featuring artwork exploring the exhibit theme of “nostalgia” from NPA’s paid artist members and featuring live music by Danny Thompson and Travis Bent. An artist showcase will feature paintings from Claudia Labin in the Stephenson House gallery. In honor of the Chocolate Trail, the new Schoolhouse 7 Cafe in Fishers will bring fresh, homemade baked chocolate treats to sample.
5. Noblesville Main Street’s Music & All That Jazz with David Hartman is from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday on the Courthouse Square.
6. Noblesville Parks’ Movies in the Park begins at dusk on Friday at Federal Hill Commons, featuring “Bumblebee.”
7. The annual Indiana Park and Recreation Foundation (IPRF) Party in the Park, featuring My Yellow Rickshaw, will be at 5 p.m. Saturday at Federal Hill Commons, with kids’ activities, food trucks, beer and wine garden, and more, with proceeds to benefit IPRF Scholarship Fund.
8. The Face to Face: Tribute to Billy Joel and Elton John, part of the Symphony on the Prairie series, will be at 6 p.m. Saturday at Conner Prairie in Fishers.
9. The final concert in the free String-Time on the Square series will feature the band Prairietown with Janet Gilray on vocals and guitar, Bob Foster on bass and Dan Wethington on banjo, all of Noblesville, lead guitarist Harry Davis of Carmel and fiddle player Tobe Woodrough of Fishers, plus special guest 13-year-old Addison McMillan of Noblesville, at 6:30 p.m. Saturday on the Courthouse lawn.
10. Forest Park Aquatic Center invites canines and their owners to a Dog Swim, noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at the pool. Vaccination proof is required.
Also, don’t forget, Noblesville Main Street’s weekly Noblesville Farmers Market is 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday at Federal Hill Commons. And just north of Hamilton County is the Tipton County Pork Festival, today through Saturday.
Upcoming next week:
1. HCAA invites the public to its monthly meetings to catch up on news, have a bite to eat and enjoy an artist demonstration. The next meeting is 7 p.m. Sept. 11.
2. Indy Kids Sale, a kids consignment sale, is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 12, 9 a.m. to 5 pm.. Sept. 13 and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds.
3. Food Truck Friday is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 13 at Federal Hill Commons.
4. Noblesville United Methodist Church’s all-you-can-eat fish and chicken fry is 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 13, with choice of two sides, green beans, mac-and-cheese, slaw and drink, for $12 for adults and $6 for ages 10 and younger.
5. Second Fridays Moonshine & Music Moonshine Circle features Songwriters in the Round from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Logan Street Sanctuary.
6. Noblesville Parks’ Movies in the Park begins at dusk on Sept. 13 at Federal Hill Commons, featuring “Dumbo.”
7. Refuge Christian Church Outreach Ministry’s Ham and Bean Supper is 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 14 at the church on 196th Street with cornbread, fried potatoes, slaw, applesauce, hot dogs, dessert and drink, for monetary donations.
8. The 25th Annual Hamilton County White River Clean Up is 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 15, checking in at the Moose Lodge on Field Drive with a second clean-up site at the 116th Street boat launch, on Wapihani Drive in Fishers. Volunteers may register at www.whiterivercleanup.org.
9. Rascal Flatts with Jordan Davis and Morgan Evans will perform at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center.
10. Noblesville Parks’ Tribute Tour will feature Bobby Miller with Groove Smash from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 14 at Federal Hill Commons.
See ya there!
-Contact Betsy Reason at betsy@thetimes24-7.com.

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